Where is “worth it” with small children.

[Downbadatthegym]

We are looking where to go at the end of April/beginning of May with a nearly two year old and three year old. What are people’s opinions on Dubai, or a cruise? Or any other suggestions, I’m not feeling an all inclusive resort without much else to do. Probably a week to ten days holiday.

I think eurocamp style holidays are great with that age. We've not been to AI but I can certainly see the attraction with small kids. But both have baby equipment on site, things for a small kids to do.

Think easy, close to the airport, not too hot.

I wouldn't be going for Dubai myself. But it depends the child. Our first was a very easy toddler and we did big long distance trips involving lots of driving. Since our second we have kept it very, very easy.

This really isn’t true for our family. We have had some wonderful holidays from 6m to 3-4yrs. Can’t think of a bad one! We’ve done city breaks, beach holidays, villas in the middle of nowhere, loads!

We don’t really stick to a routine, we eat out when we want to, sleep when we want to, don’t have to juggle work/nursery/etc. Usually we pick a fun activity, have a long leisurely lunch out, chill in the park or on the beach, see a museum, exhibition etc. Then pop to a deli or market for a relaxing dinner and glass of wine when the children are asleep.

I absolutely love holidays with little ones, they haven’t impacted us that much and not a huge amount of difference than holidays before (well no bar hopping until 3am, but I’m not that bothered about that now!).

I recommend Barcelona, Berlin, Amsterdam, Rome, Sardinia. I find toddlers a lot less stroppy in holiday as everything is fun (plus ice cream!). Much easier to deal with the usual niggles when you’re not working the next day, eating lovely food, and the sun on your back! Beaches with good bars are great. Full toilet facilities and you can have a sundowner whilst the children play in the sand!

So interesting the first few replies, because Center Parcs was literally the only holiday I enjoyed when my kids were that age.

We didn't do an all inclusive resort due to cost but in hindsight I might also have enjoyed that l, we went when they were a bit bigger and they loved the splash pool, evening kids club and unlimited buffet and ice cream.

Magic natura ! On site water park and zoo

I disagree - we loved doing self catering when the kids were very young. Easy to get in food that they like, we were bottle feeding so easy to sterilise etc, separate rooms for sleeping, so we did t have to creep around once they were in bed - we spent evenings and nap time on the terrace. If you have your own pool, you can keep a close eye on it, rather than the kids wanting to going off in different directions - we have 3 kids, so this was important to us.

We were lucky that the kids were very good sleepers, but were also happy stay up when needed - so we would have breakfast at the apartment/villa, and dinner out or a takeaway/Bbq. Lunches varied depending what we were doing for the day. Also helpful that DH was a very hands-on dad, so shared the load equally. A couple of times the in-laws came too.

Martinhal. Fantastic set up for small children. They have all the equipment and excellent food (with staffed play corners!).

We have found in the late May school hols that swimming pools in Portugal and Spain, and the sea can be on the chilly side, even when the weather is beautifully warm. I am not sure it would be much better in Greece but I've not tried. I assume that's even more the case if you go earlier in the season. Seems like Dubai was hitting 40 degrees on several days by the end of April in 2024, maybe a March trip would work better if you want to go somewhere with guaranteed heat. There are lots of people saying don't do it, but we had lots of great to interesting places with our kids. I tended to pick somewhere that appeals to myself and the husband, so we could do say a morning visiting temples and an afternoon by the pool or on the beach, that kind of thing, keep everyone happy.

I agree.

We did Florida several times, plus Spain and Turkey when ours were little. Florida was ideal as its a really active kind of holiday and we never expected to be able to lounge round the pool, not when they were toddlers anyway. A mix of parks, beaches, other attractions, shops (RIP cheap USA shopping) and loads of eating out, perfect!

On other holidays we would book activities/trips in advance so we knew we would have a certain amount of set entertainment.

It never felt like same shit, different location... we never did full self catering, that probably helps.

Anywhere! I've done cruises since my son was 1 and he loves them

You can go anywhere you could have gone pre kids. My 6 year old has been to over 20 countries, not sure why everyone decides it's impossible!

Do you mind sharing your favourite spots?

Thank you. I'm going to pin this to quote when I see posts from people who are looking for a place for their holiday with 3 DC under 4, with "lots of local culture for the little ones to appreciate, and also gourmet restaurants", I wonder if they aren't mentioning the two nannies who will also be in the party.

When our DC were little we had pretty terrible holidays because it was like being at home but without all the equipment, reserve packs of Pampers, washing machine, etc. In fact that was one of the reasons we got into home exchanges, with people who had children of about the same age.

Holidays are definitely parenting in different location but they are fun just not the same.

Anywhere that has food they can eat, a pool, beach, a play park will be enough. You need to make sure the pools will be warm enough for them and that the pools have some sort of entertainment that is appropriate like a splash pad.

If you need to use taxis abroad look up the local laws on car seats.

Flights are not fun but you get through it. 18 months to 3 years old our the worst ages to fly with it I have found

@JustPearlBiscuit we've been to the same ikos twice to be fair - Porto petro in Mallorca and we're going again this year. I believe it's more expensive than some of the others but we can go term time and shorter flight time appeals. Outside of AI we've also done HB at similar type resorts that I would also recommend - Pine Cliffs in the Algarve and Domes Corfu. When DS is a bit older we'd consider a longer flight or more of a time difference but for now this suits us as he can stay on UK time.

I just went wherever I wanted to go and googled top 10 things to do for families/children and did some of those. Most places have a zoo, aquarium, parks, child friendly museums etc.
I didn’t find it same shit different location, I loved holidays with toddlers.
We did love Center Parcs for short Monday to Friday breaks.

Frankly, anything with kids' clubs/crèche, buffet, pool and short flight and short transfer. Look at TUI Blue - amazing. Kids' clubs an absolute godsend, you can have a few hours off every day and have a holiday too.

Well you were definitely lucky.
I was dealing with two ND kids (didn't know that at the time) and an abusive shithead husband (was actually a shitty holiday that nailed the coffin shut)

However, even family and friends of mine who don't have that to deal with have ended up coming home more tired than they left, because even on holiday kids still need everything they need at home.. and sure you might be walking the beach rather than around the park, and eating from the chippy rather than your own kitchen, but nothing else changes. they still need dressing, feeding, naps, playtime, referreeing during playtime, and you're adding in the excitement of somewhere new, and the disruption of strange beds and nothing familiar.

Be glad you never had issues, for most people on holiday with kids, that isn't the reality.

I’m sorry that you had a bad time - it does sound awful - but that’s not really because of the holiday.

I know plenty of people who have holidayed with small kids - friends and family - who had a lovely time, so much so that they did it all again in the following years. Yes, it can be hard work, yes it is not the same a holidays pre-kids, it’s not necessarily relaxing, but it’s still fun. I loved spending time with the kids on the beach, in the pool, evenings out etc. Doing things that you perhaps don’t get the time or the weather to do at home when you are also working.

Campsite Sandaya Les Alicourts*** - Sandaya - Pierrefitte sur Sauldre https://search.app/r98oZBwFUb5tmjfQA

This place was amazing when we had small kids.

Child-friendly hotel with small/splash pool and mini slides, a playground, ice cream/coffee shop by the pool and not too far to walk to the beach. Decent size town with family-friendly restaurants and a pharmacy/GP. Short transfer at both ends. We've been to Mallorca twice and Spain once - it's not what I would choose without kids but it's easy. Not AI, the hotels we stayed at offered it but I didn't fancy eating every meal there.

Oh and we did a self-catered cottage in the UK once - that was nice enough but definitely less of a holiday.

However I have literally zero desire to go to historic sites/temples/art galleries with tiny children. I did plenty of that before kids, and I'll do it again in a few years when they're older. For now, give me easy.

'Worth it' with kids that age is somewhere that:

• has appropriate accommodation i.e. preferably somewhere with a separate room for sleeping so toddlers can take naps and go to bed without the adults having to hide in the bathroom on their phones while they fall asleep (apartments, aparthotels/suite hotels, cottages, chalets, villas, etc);
• is warm, but not boiling hot;
• has a heated toddler pool, gently shelving beach with warmish water and/or water play park;
• has at least one age-appropriate playground nearby;
• has toddler-friendly food options and meal times;
• has things like a farm park, small zoo, aquarium, theme park aimed at young children, etc, nearby.

Remember, if they are happy, you will be happy!

A good quality AI resort geared to children.

Not sure how warm it is at that time of year but we love the Balearics with little ones. Very short flight, book somewhere with a good pool, ideally all inclusive and it's actually surprisingly easy. Kids are happy to splash about and go to the beach. You'll get some sun and if you're lucky they might even be a kids club! Majorca, Menorca or Ibiza are all under 3 hours.

Do you mind sharing where you've been. Your post sounds like us! We love ikos and will probably try and continue to go there but would be nice to have some other options with the sort of facilities you mention.

We went to this Landal (centre-parcs type place) in Belgium last summer, that had soft play and bouncy castles and kids clubs, as well as the lake and beach https://maps.app.goo.gl/YBvbPFfMdDX6LdCV8

When we went the pool was closed for refurb, but would be even better if it has reopened.